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Health / Safety

Watch for status updates for Oval, other campus areas due to storm

April 8, 2013

Current weather forecasts call for up to 13 inches of snow between midnight tonight (Monday, April 8) and noon Wednesday.

Update 5:20 a.m., Tuesday, April 9

CSU's Oval is open unless conditions change.

Posted 2 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2013

While this is not an unusual amount of snow for a spring storm, it brings with it some safety concerns about mature trees on campus, and some areas of campus will be closed if trees may be damaged.

Snow may damage trees, cause campus safety concern

Many deciduous trees held their leaves this fall because of unseasonably warm temperature, and many deciduous trees on campus also are beginning to leaf out and flower. Leaves and buds hold snow on branches, and a heavy snow may cause the branches to crack or break. Trees in the historic area of campus are more than 100 years old and may be especially susceptible.

Damaged and broken limbs are a safety concern, and some areas of campus may be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday – and possibly longer if trees are damaged and need to be trimmed. Closures may likely include the Oval – home of some of the most cherished trees on campus – including a closure to all vehicles and pedestrians. Please watch for closed areas and avoid walking and driving there. A decision about whether or not to close the Oval will be made by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 9; that information will be posted shortly after to this story in Today@Colostate and on the university's safety website.

Public Safety Team will watch conditions

In addition,CSU’s Public Safety Team will keep tabs on the forecast and conditions. In general, the university does not cancel classes and business operations due to snowy conditions, which are expected in Colorado. However, during inclement weather, the PST does monitor conditions on campus through input from CSUPD and Facilities workers, as well as check on the status of city and county offices and local school districts, and considers the forecast and current weather conditions, such as wind speed. In addition, after an overnight snow, PST members often drive around their own neighborhoods to get an idea of the conditions. The PST takes many other factors into account, including that students have paid tuition for the day.

If heavy snowfall accumulates overnight, such as what is anticipated with this storm, the PST makes an early morning recommendation to President Tony Frank regarding whether to close the university or portions of the university, delay the start of business, or remain open.

If the Public Safety Team decides to recommend a snow day or late start, and that recommendation is accepted, the university communicates with students and employees via the university home page, the safety site (www.safety.colostate.edu), Today@Colostate (www.today.colostate.edu), CSU social media pages (Facebook and Twitter), and usually an email message and text alert, as well as through local media outlets.